The Dee Why Project
Tackling teenage gaming and gambling harm.
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The gambling and gaming initiative
The initiative is funded by the Office of Responsible Gambling NSW to develop education and case management programs that raise awareness about gambling and gaming among young people in the Dee Why community. Due to the success of the Dee Why Project, Burdekin secured an additional three years of funding from the Office of Responsible Gambling NSW in 2023.
The Dee Why Project has given Burdekin the opportunity to make a positive difference in the concerning issues of gambling and gaming to a broad range of participants.
The Impact of Online Gambling on Young People
Online gambling is increasingly impacting young people due to the widespread availability of gambling apps, pervasive advertising, and easy access via smartphones. Recent data reveals Australians lost over $32 billion to gambling in 2022/23, an increase of $8 billion compared to five years earlier (Queensland Treasury, 2023). Australians now hold the highest gambling losses per capita in the world, with gaming machines alone accounting for more than $12 billion of these losses.
The consequences of gambling harm have become a major public health concern, contributing to poor physical and mental health, financial hardship, homelessness, criminal activity, family violence, and even suicide. According to the Australian Gambling Research Centre, nearly half of all gamblers are at risk of experiencing gambling-related harm.
Online gambling is increasingly infiltrating youth spaces, particularly within professional sports and gaming communities. Young people—especially young men aged 14-18 with access to a smartphone, debit card, and employment—are at a heightened risk of developing gambling dependence. Many engage in illegal betting, often bypassing age verification measures and using debit cards to fund their gambling habits.
Addressing this growing issue requires urgent awareness, education, and intervention to protect young people from the harmful effects of gambling addiction.
In 2019, a survey by the Australian Communications & Media Authority found that 75% of parents were concerned about their children's exposure to gambling advertisements. Many parents feel helpless in the face of the ‘new normal’ of constant screen time. Families are increasingly noticing that their children have become dependent on gaming, leading to concerns about a lack of balance in their social, emotional, and physical lives. As a result, parents are seeking ways to help their children regain a healthier lifestyle.
The Dee Why Project background
In the first stage of the Dee Why Project, Burdekin conducted a gambling awareness education program for Burdekin clients aged 18 and over, to gain a better understanding of the risks and harms around gambling, alcohol and other drugs.
The Dee Why Project developed a training workshop for Case Managers to provide teenage gaming/gambling education and skills-based training for early intervention and case management to clients.
Workshops were conducted within schools to an audience of Year 7 students, to gain an insight into healthy gaming and to minimise harm, dispel myths and misconceptions of online gaming. The workshops also helped to identify the potential harms of teenage gaming dependency, and to understand the best amount of time to play online and how to balance gaming and a healthy lifestyle.
A Community Forum was held in 2022, for parents and young people to learn the ins and outs of supporting young people who game, and to gain an insight to the world of gaming, through a young person’s eyes.
Questions were raised during the Forum, including, what draws them in? What’s a healthy amount of time to game? Is my teenager dependant on gaming?
Andrew Kinch of GameAware was the key presenter, a previous schoolteacher who was also experienced working with youth at risk. He presented workshops, bridging the gaps between teenage gamers, parents and professionals. He also educated the participants on reducing conflict around gaming at home, minimizing compulsion and escapism by building resilience.
Headspace presented at the forum and linked participants into services and treatment option available to young people.
GambleAware was also represented at the forum. Their purpose was to work towards zero gambling-related harm in NSW through research, education and support for individuals and communities. GambleAware is funded by the NSW Responsible Gambling Fund.
Dee Why Project partners
Special Guest Speaker, Andrew Kinch from GameAware, has 30 years gaming experience and 15 years of well-being and teaching experience. His skillset is primed to tackle this issue by using Intelligent gaming strategies to help gamers enjoy their games without it being the number one priority in their lives. Andrew approaches problematic gaming with experience-based strategies and current information on the psychology of games.
In 2020, GameAware was awarded the AMP’s Tomorrow Fund and works collaboratively with headSpace to enrich the lives of young people and their family through strategies to make playing video games a hobby, not a habit. Working with parents, youth professionals and schools, Andrew and his team of mentors help empower through education and tools to create healthy gaming habits. Each month GameAware run a range of online and face-to-face programs to support the community.
GambleAware’s purpose is to work towards zero gambling-related harm in NSW through research, education and support for individuals and communities. The work GambleAware does concerns everyone in NSW who is affected by gambling. GambleAware work with adults and young people, families, schools, councils, community groups and the gambling industry to help prevent and address gambling-related harm.
The Dee Why Project successfully achieved the following in 2023:
Worked with 16 Year 10 students from Balgowlah Boys High School on the 2024 B A Game Changer Peer Education Project on teenage gambling and gaming. The project aims to prevent underage gambling by educating young people under 18 about the risks associated with gaming and its connection to gambling-related harms. Peer Educators are better equipped to connect with their peers than traditional authority figures. Their relatability and similar life experiences enhance the credibility of the gambling and gaming information they provide. They also reduce the stigma associated with seeking help for gambling-related problems and help establish and strengthen peer support networks.
Conducted several wellbeing and life skill workshops.
Forged partnerships with and training of Mission Australia Counsellors, with the assistance of GambleAware. These counsellors provided support and assistance to young people referred by Peer Educators at Balglowah Boys High School.
The BA Gamechanger program
The BA Gamechanger program for 2024 focused on educating Year 10 Peer Educators about the risks associated with gaming and gambling while empowering them to make informed choices and positively influence their peers. Through workshops, surveys, and structured conversations, the program aimed to foster a balanced approach to gaming and gambling, reducing potential harms and promoting healthy behaviours.
Key achievements:
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Behavioural Improvements
- Greater Awareness: By the conclusion of the one-year program, Peer Educators demonstrated increased awareness of the impacts of gaming and gambling. Many acknowledged that these activities had affected their responsibilities, reflecting enhanced self-reflection.
- Ethical Financial Practices: Misuse of others’ credit cards for gaming or gambling decreased significantly, indicating improved ethical decision-making.
- Time Management: Instances of late-night gaming or simulated online gambling showed a reduction, suggesting better balance in daily routines.
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Shift in Attitudes
- Participants exhibited mixed understanding of gambling-like features in games. While some recognised risks, the normalisation of practices such as loot boxes persisted, highlighting an area for continued focus.
- Confidence in gambling abilities increased for some, suggesting the need for sustained education on the unpredictability and inherent risks of gambling.
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Impact of conversations
- Peer Educators led 152 structured conversations throughout the program, directly engaging over 600 individuals. These conversations provided a platform for Peer Educators to share their learnings, foster discussions, and offer advice grounded in evidence and personal experiences.
- Feedback indicated that these conversations strengthened understanding of risks associated with gaming and gambling while promoting balanced behaviours within the community.
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Community Engagement
- The large survey of 300 participants mirrored the trends observed in the smaller cohort of Peer Educators, demonstrating the program’s scalability and effectiveness in influencing broader community behaviours.
- Improvements included reduced financial risks, increased focus on ethical gaming, and a general shift towards balanced lifestyle choices.
Challenges
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Recognition of gambling features in games
Many participants continued to express uncertainty about whether in-game purchases like loot boxes constitute gambling. This suggests a need for ongoing education and clearer messaging.
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Overconfidence in gambling skills
Increased confidence in gambling abilities among some participants highlights the importance of reinforcing the unpredictable nature of gambling and addressing misconceptions.
Program outcomes:
The BA Gamechanger program successfully achieved its objectives of enhancing awareness, fostering positive behaviours, and equipping Peer Educators to serve as influential role models within their communities.
Key indicators of success include:
- Improved decision-making in financial and ethical practices.
- Increased awareness of the broader implications of gaming and gambling.
- Sustained engagement through conversations and surveys, demonstrating the program’s ability to maintain focus on its core goals.
The BA Gamechanger program has made a significant impact on participants and their communities, laying a strong foundation for long-term behavioural change. Peer Educators were instrumental in reducing social facilitation of gambling, promoting balanced gaming habits, and maintaining open, meaningful conversations through the ‘HITS’ framework.
Gambling and gaming addiction resources
Do you need support to deal with a gambling or gaming addiction? Here are some useful links to help you on your way:
Stronger, better, and more capable – together.
